ROUND-UP: Grand finals ahead for Premier A and U-21 rugby sides

Hautapu Sports will play for two of Waikato Rugby’s top trophies next weekend when the club tries to bring home the Breweries Shield and the Elliott Shield.

For the third year in a row, Hautapu Sports will play Hamilton Marist in the final of the Breweries Shield on Saturday July 26, 2025.

Main photo: Action from the 2024 Breweries Shield final between Marist and Hautapu Sports. Photo credit: Jane Thompson.

Hautapu reached their seventh Waikato Premier Rugby grand final in eight years with a 67-20 semi-final win against University at Memorial Park.

Marist reached the grand final by the barest of margins, beating Fraser Tech 21-20.

The final will be hosted by Marist who finished above Hautapu at the completion of the round robin fixtures.

Hautapu Sports’ U-21 side will meet Hamilton Old Boys in the final of the Elliott Shield, after finishing runners-up in last year’s competition.

The U-21s beat Hamilton Marist 25-19 in this year’s semi-final to reach the final, while Old Boys got to the big game with a 43-16 win against Rugby United.

Results

Game played on Saturday July 19, 2025

Waikato Premier A

Semi-final

Hautapu Sports 67 (Tries: Jacobson, Salabiau 2, Faaola 2, Morris 2, Hill, McQuoid, Falconer. Penalty: Ngatai. Conversions: Ngatai 3, Hill, Rata-Makene, Martin 2)
University 20 (Tries: Jackson, name withheld, Ngata. Penalty: Name withheld. Conversion: Name withheld)

Waikato U-21

Semi-final

Hamilton Marist 19 (Tries: Harray, name withheld, Pepene Tanevesi. Conversions: Jackson 2)
Hautapu Sports 25 (Tries: Tapara, Stewart, Farrell. Penalties: Collins 2. Conversions: Collins 2)

Fixtures

Game to be played on Saturday July 26, 2025

Waikato Premier A

Breweries Shield grand final

Hamilton Marist v Hautapu Sports 
Marist Park, Hamilton, 2.45pm

Waikato U-21

Elliott Shield grand final

Hamilton Old Boys v Hautapu Sports 
Fred Jones Park, Hamilton, 1pm

Hautapu look to add to impressive shield history

Hautapu have an excellent record in the elite Waikato competition, especially since the introduction of play-off games in 1983.

The club has achieved seven shield wins since 1983 when play-off games were introduced.

In the past 25 years, Hautapu has built an admirable record in the competition with:

• Seven wins.
• Three sets of back-to-back wins.
• Twenty appearances in the semi-finals.
• Twelve grand finals, including this year.

Recent form

Here are the most recent results from the Breweries Shield:

2018: Runners-up to Hamilton Old Boys.

2019: Winners v Fraser Tech (Hautapu unbeaten during the season).

2020: Winners v Otorohanga.

2021: Runners-up to Fraser Tech.

2022: Semi-finalists, losing to Hamilton Old Boys.

2023: Winners v Hamilton Marist

2024: Runners-up to Hamilton Marist

All the Waikato Breweries Shield winners

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